Tag: the book The Secret

“Do you believe in God?”

I would get that question after people read my book, The Attractor Factor, or read (or saw the movie) The Secret.

They somehow assumed that the Law of Attraction replaced God.

They somehow assumed that people who practice the Law of Attraction are playing God.

That confused me.

“God gave you the Law of Attraction,” I would explain. “Just as God — or the Divine, Universe, or Nature — gave you gravity. It’s a tool you can use, but it doesn’t replace the person who gave it to you.”

Not God but keep reading to discover Rudy Pensa and his heavenly store...

I’d go on to explain that I absolutely believe in God, but usually call that “ultimate force of life” the Divine, to neutralize any emotional buttons people have when they hear the word “God.”

But this unseen force is not only giving us life, It is nudging us in a certain direction, too.

In a way, the force is “pruning” us.

As you go about your life, you get bumped and rocked by events as a way for Life (God, Divine, etc) to direct you where IT wants you to go.

The more you follow the nudges, the easier life gets.

This blog post is an example.

I was sitting, eating dinner with Nerissa, when the idea for this post entered my mind.

I wasn’t looking for an idea.

I was enjoying my dinner.

But I’ve learned to obey the Divine’s inspirations.

So I turned to Nerissa and said, “You know how I get ideas at odd moments?”

She looked at me and said, “See you later.”

She understood.

Here’s another example:

I was in New York City on business and decided to visit Rudy’s Music Store in SoHo.

I knew it was famous, that Rudy Pensa is a renown collector of rare instruments, and I suspected it’d be worth the trip to see it.

Not God either but Gordon French at Rudy's showing me a Versoul electric guitar (made by Kari Nieminen in Finland)

It was.

The beautiful store is two stories of new and old guitars, acoustic and electric, some highly collectible, all stunning.

I was in awe of the place.

In a display case was a 1938 D’Angelico New Yorker archtop guitar.

If you know guitars, you just fainted.

The late John D’Angelico is considered the Michelangelo of guitar makers.

His instruments are sought after by collectors, musicians, museums, and fans.

Books have been written about his style and his guitars.

Even Rudy, the owner of the shop, created a mammoth coffee table book (Archtop Guitars) with some of D’Angelico’s guitars described inside, knew D’Angelico, and owns a few of his works.

Stunning book of archtop guitars made by D'Angelico, D'Aquisto, and Monteleone, compiled by Rudy Pensa

D’Angelico made 1,164 guitars in his life. (He died in 1964).

He didn’t hand carve all those guitars for fame or fortune.

He said, “Big money? Big title? For what? I want to build guitars under my own name, for my own customers, the way I do it! For me that’s a good life!”

And there I was, staring at one of them.

Gordon, the shop keeper, pulled the 1938 masterpiece out of the case and handed it to me.

“I can play it?” I asked.

“Yes, of course,” he said. “We want you to experience any guitar you see here.”

1938 D'Angelico New Yorker

I held the archtop as if it was out of a museum.

I strummed it and heard the sound of angels.

I looked it over and saw God’s handiwork in a guitar.

I could tell the guitar was well played, well loved, and still in flawless shape.

“Everything on it is original except the covering on the pick guard,” Gordon said. “We even have the original case.”

Later, Rudy showed me the ledger in his book revealing the serial number for the guitar, year made, and who it was made for, all in D’Angelico’s handwriting.

This is where I felt the inner tug at my heart that I think is the Divine calling me.

I’ve learned to follow those tugs.

After Rudy told me the price, and I gasped, I asked if there was a discount for a guitar lover who would probably buy other guitars from him.

He laughed, ran some numbers, and gave me a slight break.

I bought it.

What does this have to do with God?

Look behind the scenes…

"Acquired of the Angels" is another book about D'Angelico guitars

I only felt directed to go to one store in all of New York City.

Rudy’s.

I could have gone anywhere.

And while there, the D’Angelico seemed to call out my name.

I could have ignored it.

I believe all of this was Divinity aiming my direction.

Later, after I left the store and decided to walk two miles back to my hotel, I wondered what would come of my buying an investment grade work of playable art.

Then another inspiration hit me.

(Where do these inspirations come from?)

I realized that my forthcoming book, The Secret Prayer, could be enriched with the story of how I was led to the guitar.

You see, I had said a prayer before I left that morning, asking to be led to the right place and to experience a joyful event.

As I’ve written before, “Prayer is a way to activate the Law of Attraction by requesting an intention and inviting inspiration.”

I said my prayer in a state of gratitude, made a request for an exciting day, and took action by following my hunch to go to Rudy’s.

From there, I simply allowed the miracle.

And it happened.

In other words, God is directing me (and you, too, of course), and we can attract (or allow) miracles when we act on the signs and opportunities we are given.

But we have to participate.

I could have said “I”ll skip Rudy’s and go to Starbucks.”

I could have said, “Nah, that D’Angelico is too expensive.”

I could have said, “No, I’d rather finish dinner than write this post.”

But when you say YES to the inspirations, and take action, you are following Divinity’s plan for you.

When you follow inspiration – whether to build a guitar of the caliber of a D’Angelico, or to buy one – you are following the Divine’s path for you.

But you may need a razor sharp sensitivity to hear the whisper, and total faith to take action on the prompting.

Werner Erhard (founder of est) used to say, “If you knew what God wanted you to do, you’d do it and be happy. Well, what you are doing right now is what God wants you to do.”

So the next time you feel stuck or stopped, ask if Divinity is trying to redirect your path or your process.

Or the next time you receive a nudge to leave dinner early, or buy a guitar, ask if you are ready to step out in faith.

Where is God?

Right here.

Ao Akua,

joe

PS – Rudy’s Music Store in New York City is right here.

PPS – Yes, I was also practicing “prosperous purchasing” by getting the 1938 D’Angelico New Yorker, a concept I explain in my free book, Attract Money Now.

Member BBB 2003 -2015

Every month I answer questions from people in my Miracles Coaching program.

Been doing it for years.

The questions are always raw, in depth, fresh, sincere, and often surprising.

For example —

• How do I stay positive when people around me are negative?

• How do I discover my life purpose when I don’t know what I want?

• How do I attract money in this terrible economy?

• How do I attract my soul mate?

• How do I improve my self-image?

• How do I help others?

• What can I do when everything looks hopeless?

Every call is recorded, and the best of the questions and answers get put into a series of books called, The Miracles Manual. There are currently two volumes in the series with a third on the way. (All are free right here.)

Recently I had this question tossed at me —

“If you were forced to set all learning aside and could only teach one principle for the rest of your life – what one principle would host the most importance to you?”

“I can answer that question in only two words, ” I replied.

“Oh?”

Click image to get Vol 1 and Vol 2 free

“Active Gratitude.”

“Active Gratitude?”

I went on to say, “If each of us would practice gratitude in the moment, all worries would vanish, all problems would resolve, all miracles would come easily — in fact, if we really were in gratitude in the moment, we’d realize we are already happy, already peaceful, and already living the miracle.”

Active Gratitude means noticing the good in every moment. When you actually come from gratitude, you wouldn’t judge the moment as good or bad because you’d realize the jury isn’t in yet and so every moment can be seen as good.

Active Gratitude means you live in a spirit of thankfulness, realizing all you have right now is a gift and a miracle in itself.

Active Gratitude means your meditation is gratitude, your process is gratitude, and your “technique” is gratitude.

Active Gratitude means giving thanks in each moment for the moment.

If each of us practiced Active Gratitude, we’d change ourselves and the planet and probably invite instant enlightenment.

We’d realize that in each moment the Universe is giving us so much that we rarely acknowledge — It is keeping us alive without our paying or doing a thing — that we would feel overwhelmed with love.

Active Gratitude would open our eyes to see the miracle of right now.

And from practicing Active Gratitude, we would have raised our vibration so all we attract in the future moments would be better and better, always raising the bar on the incredible beauty of the now.

Why don’t we practice Active Gratitude?

We are afraid.

We subconsciously think some version of this belief:

“If I’m happy and accept this moment as good, I won’t do anything to make my life better.”

But is that true?

I’ve discovered that when I am happy, content, and at peace, I tend to pursue my calling, my life path, and my life mission.

When I lived in fear, desperation and survival, all I attracted was more of the same.

The secret door to escape the mental torment of suffering is to begin the practice of praising.

In other words, look around and find what you are thankful for, and express it.

Yes, if I was backed into a corner and told I could only teach one thing, it’d be Active Gratitude.

And I’d be grateful for that, too.

Any more questions?

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS — Check out Miracles Coaching by clicking right here.

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

I’m in the recording studio with Grammy nominated legend Ruthie Foster and award-winning singer and producer Daniel Barrett. We have joined forces to create an album together.

I’m flattered beyond belief that these two superstars want me on an album. After all, I’m relatively new to being a musician. And I’ve been a long time fan of both of them. To be in the studio with them is mind boggling.

I was so excited to record with them that I showed up for our first session thirty days early. (!)

But what’s really interesting is how we are all stretching ourselves.

For example —

Daniel Barrett, Ruthie Foster, and me

Ruthie is famous for her singing but not her lead guitar.

On our album, she is playing lead electric guitar.

Daniel does everything, from engineering to singing and more, but he doesn’t play the drums. Or at least didn’t.

On this album, he does.

I’m a newbie to music and don’t have all that much experience doing anything (even though I’ve released eight albums in over three years). I certainly am brand new and uncomfortable on the saxophone.

On this album, I am playing a baritone saxophone.

What’s going on here?

Ruthie Foster stretching

Each of us is stretching out of our comfort zones.

Why?

How?

When you stretch your comfort zone, you reach a new level of comfort and confidence.

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?” – Robert Browning

When Daniel, Ruthie and I go into the studio, we talk, share, joke, and play. Out of our openness, we come up with songs. Out of our willingness to take risks, and exceed our comfort zones by pursing our desires, we create new possibilities.

The result is magic.

And some pretty cool music.

This is an important lesson for each of us.

You have “comfort zone limits,” too.

When you find them and nudge them a bit, you extend your power and attract new results.

We aren’t doing daredevil stuff in the studio.

When you look in the mirror, what do you hear?

We are taking what we haven’t done before but want to do, and focusing on making something happen by doing it.

We are simply following our inspiration and taking action to create something new.

Yes, there is often fear involved, but we feel the fear and do it, anyway.

We turn the fear into fuel.

Here’s an example —

One day, while Ruthie was playing lead electric guitar (and truly wowing me at it), I received an idea for a song.

I jotted it down.

As she kept playing, I started singing the song in my head.

The lyrics and her melody seemed to work together.

When she was done playing, I did something daring.

I said, “I want to sing!”

This was a huge move on my part.

Singing at all, any time, any place, has been a challenge for me.

I’m new at it.

I’ve been insecure about it.

And to sing for Ruthie Foster — one of the best singers I’ve ever heard in my entire life — was a courageous even outrageous thing to suggest.

Even though Ruthie had mentioned just the day before, “I like your singing, Joe. You can sing with me if you want,” I didn’t feel ready to leave my comfy mindset and step into her arena.

But.

But I wanted to push out of my comfort zone.

My heart was racing but I knew I had to do this.

Daniel and Ruthie are loving and supportive, and urged me on.

After all, each of us was doing something new.

We were all stretching.

So I took a deep breath, got in front of the mike, and belted out my tune.

After I sang, Daniel said, “That was some of the best singing I’ve ever heard out of you.”

Really?

Adding Bari Sax

I looked over at Ruthie and she was beaming a sunny smile and nodding her head in agreement.

It was amazing.

Daniel’s drumming, Ruthie’s lead guitar, my vocals — it was a stretch for each of us but it all came together into a powerful new song that will be on our forthcoming first album.

And that song will probably be titled, “Stretch Yourself!”

All I’m reminding you here is do what you fear.

If you have a dream but feel nervous about it, that’s good.

It means you care.

The next step is to get up and do something about it.

Your comfort zones are invisible lines in your mind.

You can melt them with a little stepping forth.

I’m packing up my baritone saxophone and heading back to the studio right now.

It’s time for Saxman Joe to do his thing.

What are you going to do today to stretch yourself?

Ao Akua,

Saxman Joe

PS — Ruthie Foster told me she got an “Aha!” from listening to my song, ‘Reflection,’ off my latest singer-songwriter album of the same name. You can hear samples of all the tracks on that album and grab the CD (which comes with a collectible, limited edition booklet, and with a surprise gift) over at http://www.ReflectionCD.com

BONUS: If you’ve never heard Ruthie Foster sing, watch this…

Member BBB 2003 - 2015

Last week I completed my fourth consecutive physical transformation challenge!

I wrote about the previous ones over the last year and a half.* All have been under the guidance of Body for Life fitness legend Bill Phillips, and his wife Maria, with personal coaching from Scott York.

The results have been spectacular!

I'm an athlete!

I’ve released about 60 pounds, packed on about 15 pounds of muscle, dropped at least one pants size, lost several inches off my waist, have made daily exercise my new habit, have a new eating plan, and feel like a new man.

While it’s taken commitment, persistence, and lots of perspiration, I have done it and am continuing to do it. I feel younger and stronger than ever.

I’m the new Hercules! (Or maybe one representing AARP.)

AARP's Hercules

Working on age 61, I may be in the best shape of my life since I was a teenager in high school training to become the world heavyweight boxing champion. (It was 1970 and I was so young.)

I don’t want you to think it was a breeze to get here, though.

During the last twelve week challenge, I found myself slipping.

I wrote the following for myself and the others in the same challenge as me:

A message to all those who have stalled or stopped…

Recently I had to reactivate my intention, goal, and purpose.

After being in three programs, and eight weeks into my fourth one, I started to get comfy. I looked back and realized I had released 50 pounds, added 15 pounds of muscle, dropped a pant size, made exercise a locked in habit, and heard praise from people like my personal doctor, who says he has known me for 15 years and has never seen me look so healthy.

I figured I had achieved a “good enough” stage of fitness.

Somewhere in there I got relaxed and let my eating slide. I never pigged out, but I’d give in to temptation now and then. It’s easy to do, as I live in a test kitchen and my wife is on deadline with her cookbook. Foods are everywhere and so is the hypnotic scent of fresh baked meals. Even though it’s grain-free and sugar-free, it still has calories. It still counts. I’d eat a little anyway.

I didn’t think much of it.

But then I took my 8 week photos and scale weight.

Shit.

I didn’t like that there was no change AT ALL.

I felt like a failure.

That’s when I had to regroup and recommit.

To me, motivation (mindset) is more important than ANYTHING else. When you have made a decision and commit to it, nothing will stop you. Any diet will work. Any exercise will work. Of course, what Bill and Maria teach is the best. But without mindset, you (or I) won’t do anything. We will simply give in to whims and temptations and instant gratification.

So I reviewed my goals and decided I was NOT going to stop or stall.

I thought about the payoffs for being even slimmer, stronger, and healthier: increased self esteem and inner power, inspiration to others and myself in the world, the chance of accomplishing something BIG in the area of fitness, etc.

I recommitted to my 12-week goal and my lifetime goal.

Instantly I felt better.

By the next morning I felt renewed strength.

My workouts, which have always been intense, are even more on target.

When my wife offered me a dessert she just made, I politely said no. She didn’t bat an eye and honored my decision.

Right now I’m wearing a muscle shirt. It’s tight, so my stomach shows, but so do my biceps. And they are something to behold.

I’m posting this to remind each of us that we CAN achieve our health goals. It begins with a decision, and then ongoing commitment to it, and every day action. Having support (which we have here) is priceless, as big dreams are easier when you have people rooting you on.

I’m back on track.

Join me?

After I shared the above, I made a decision and turned on the afterburners to my commitment to fitness.

I completed the challenge.

The results speak for themselves.

I don’t know what your own personal goals are, but I’m pretty sure you can achieve them, too.

Why not go for it?

Expect Miracles!

Ao Akua,

Joe

PS – I fully endorse Bill Phillips. I am not an affiliate for anything he offers (he doesn’t know I’m writing this) but I fully recommend all of it. For more details, see  http://www.transformation.com/ or send an email to [email protected]

* My previous posts about Bill Phillips and my Transformation progress:

March 1 2013 http://blog.mrfire.com/transformation-on-demand/

May 16 2013 http://blog.mrfire.com/transformation-update/

October 22, 2013 http://blog.mrfire.com/transformation-part-three/

May 1, 2014: http://blog.mrfire.com/transformation-part-4/

I thought you might like to watch my first full scale music video, based on a song I wrote that was nominated for a Posi Award (the Grammy’s of positive music), off my album, Strut!. Please enjoy and share…

Click to read book for free

Member BBB 2003 - 2015